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Thursday, September 11, 2014

Old Cars of Joshua Tree National Park

In my opinion, the National Park Service should be applauded for leaving things "as is". Case in point: The old cars you can find throughout Joshua Tree National Park. They could have elected to haul them off, but instead they've left them intact as part of the Park's history.

One can only marvel at why someone was driving a car in a totally remote and unforgiving area back at a time when the nearest paved roads were probably at least 50 miles away?

Not to mention that cars of yesteryear were much more likely to overheat or blow a tire than cars of today.

These cars were all seen on the relatively short hike to the "Wall Street Mill", an old mining operation in the Park near Barker Dam.

Given the large size of Joshua Tree National Park, it makes me wonder what to total abandoned car count is? I'm guessing it's a large number!

This last one is, I think, my favorite. I like all the Joshua Trees, boulders, and beautiful sky in the background!

Joshua Tree is a magical place from a photography point of view! Linking with Skywatch Friday. Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world.

47 comments:

Oh these are magnificent. I had no idea there were that many abandoned cars out there in Joshua Tree. Six more shots like these and you have yourself a calender you could sell. Probably just old guys who like cars would be your only customers though.

Wow, now I'm really intrigued about those cars. I agree that it was a great decision not to move them out of the way. I've seen lots of images of Joshua tree but I have never heard a thing about the cars.

I think I just lost my comment....Beautiful photos! I also think it's great that they have left them alone. They are a big part of the history here.A thought: The truck in the first photo is actually a car that was converted. The green truck in the third photo, is missing its bed. I wonder if the bed was moved to the vehicle in the first photo.

Things last forever out there on the desert; we were amazed at these examples as well. Wonderful pictures. Reminds you that not all adventures end well! Gosh, I am old enough to remember how my dad would have to stop and put water in the overheated engine whenever we drove somewhere out of town. There were watering stations specifically for that purpose in the farm and hill country surrounding our hometown. And that was a lot nearer to civilization.

What stories must be attached to each of these cars! Your photos are absolutely fabulous, and to my English eyes very exotic, the combination of sky. landscape and the cars like the bones of an animal - you have an artist's eye!

How intriguing! If only these old cars could speak, I'd love to hear their stories of how they ended up in such a final resting (parking?) place. Your photos are terrific - the natural scenery is spectacularly beautiful all by itself, of course - but I must say, those old car remains provide a most interesting touch of beauty of their own to the scenes, really adding to the mystery and hauntingly beautiful desolation of the place. Wonderful post!

What splendid composition and artful processing of these images of the old cars! It really stimulates your imagination to ponder the personal adventures and tragedies of those who ventured there so many years ago.

All of your photos are quite stunning, but I agree that the last shot is my favorite, too. I think it's great the cars are there. Certainly makes for some great photography. You really know how to capture their essence.

oh my gosh, i love these! i didn't know there were abandoned cars there but it does remind me of my husband telling me something about finding an old car out there once (we were stationed at 29 palms back in the 80's)...awesome shots! they really tell a story!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

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